[Blindtlk] devices RE: introduction
Carly Mihalakis
carlymih at comcast.net
Mon Sep 10 05:41:45 UTC 2012
Hi, Dave,
I too am intrigued by this machine bbut am confused, I understood
that information the opticon rendered, nonvisually,, accessable was
only around long enough to be read and not like, saved, right? I
understand the opticon predates the integrated circut, so
therefore the PC, and the ability of saving? Smater of fact, we just
lost john lindville, one of the opticon's creator/develoopers, at 97 or so.
?
for today, CarDavid Andrews wrote:
>Technically speaking, the optacon doesn't read the handwriting --
>the person using it does. There is a small camera, about the size
>of a pack of chewing gum that you run across the lines of print. It
>is attached to a main unit into which you put your other
>hand. There is a grid of pins that vibrate in the shapes of what is
>on the page, and you read them by putting your index finger on those pins.
>
>It took a good deal of practice to become good, which I think is why
>it was not more successful. There were some good users though, who
>swore by it, and are still using one.
>
>Dave
>
>At 05:22 PM 9/5/2012, you wrote:
>>Hi,
>> Until now, I've never heard ofan Opticon. It actually
>> reads handwriting? What actually is an Opticon?
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: Carly Mihalakis <carlymih at comcast.net
>>To: Blind Talk Mailing List <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>,"'Blind Talk
>>Mailing List'" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>>Date sent: Mon, 03 Sep 2012 18:56:46 -0700
>>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] devices was RE: introduction
>>
>>Hi, Chris,
>>
>>I am 28 but have many a blind friend who love their opticons, for
>>those many, many applications such as reading handwriting and other
>>things that OCR, frankly pukes on.
>>
>>Name me a digital divice that reads handwriting. so No, the opticon
>>is not obsolete and, so far as I'm concerned never will be despite
>>Telesensory's haveing gone under. At 06:45 PM 9/3/2012, Mike Freeman wrote:
>>Hi, chris.
>>
>>The Optacon was the subject of a lot of hype. In fact, the fastest Optacon
>>users never got much beyond 100 or 120 words per minute.
>>However, the only
>>real limit to what an Optacon could read was the comprehension of the human
>>brain. So I would argue that we didn't *have* many of the accessibility
>>concerns we do today because if the Optacon could display it and "it" --
>>whatever it was -- was relatively uniform (handwriting is not), one could
>>read it. So I disagree that the Optacon is obsolete.
>>
>>Mike
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>Behalf Of Chris Nusbaum
>>Sent: Monday, September 03, 2012 5:28 PM
>>To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
>>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] devices was RE: introduction
>>
>>Hi Mike,
>>
>>I agree with you about the Stream. As far as Humanware's tech support, ugh;
>>don't remind me! Thank God I've got a local Humanware distributor in my area
>>that actually provides good tech support. Once I found out that I'm their
>>customer, not Humanware's, and they're the ones who are supposed to provide
>>me with technical support, I don't even bother calling Humanware when I have
>>a problem with either my BrailleNote or my Stream.
>>
>>As to the Optacon, you may be surprised to know that although I'm a
>>14-year-old freshman in high school, I do actually know what the Optacon is
>>and have seen one in action! The concept of it sort of reminds me of an
>>older KNFB Reader, although it conveys the information in a very different
>>way. I personally found it very difficult and tedious to read with, probably
>>because I'm a Braille guy and always have been. However, I'm sure that with
>>time and practice one can get relatively fast reading with the Optacon. I
>>can definitely see where it was a great piece of technology in the time when
>>it was new, but I think newer and better technology such as Braille
>>displays, scan-and-read software and screen readers has made the Optacon
>>obsolete.
>>
>>Chris
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>Behalf Of Mike Freeman
>>Sent: Monday, September 03, 2012 8:12 PM
>>To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
>>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] devices was RE: introduction
>>
>>Jasmine:
>>
>>I use a fancy windows 7 laptop with multiple sound cards and also an
>>external DECtalk USB synthesizer; the machine runs Windows 7 Home Premium.
>>Screen-readers are JAWS 13 and NVDA. I use a BraillesensePLUS B32 note-taker
>>from HIMS as well as a BookSense from HIMS. I use a Victor Reader Stream
>>which IMO overall is still the best portable DAISY player on the market even
>>though I'm not enamered of HumanWare's tech support other than for the
>>Stream at the moment. I use an iPhone 4. I also still have a working
>>Optacon. I suppose that about does it.
>>
>>Mike Freeman
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>Behalf Of Chris Nusbaum
>>Sent: Monday, September 03, 2012 4:21 PM
>>To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
>>Subject: [Blindtlk] devices was RE: introduction
>>
>>Hi Jasmine,
>>
>>For me it's a BrailleNote Apex, a laptop running Windows 7 and JAWS 12, a
>>Victor Reader Stream, and (my favorite) an iPod Touch!
>>
>>Chris
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>Behalf Of Jasmine Kotsay
>>Sent: Monday, September 03, 2012 4:38 PM
>>To: Blind Talk Mailing List
>>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] introduction
>>
>>Hi,
>> No, I didn't expect it, but I'm
>>glad that this is a place both to talk seriously and have fun.
>>:)
>> I was wondering what types of
>>devices some of you use, such as BrailleNotes, computers with JAWS, or any
>>others. I've already asked a couple of you this question, and I know some
>>are on the BrailleNote list, but I'm curious.
>>
>>Sincerely,
>>Jasmine
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>>From: Ray Foret Jr <rforetjr at att.net
>>To: Blind Talk Mailing List <blindtlk at nfbnet.org Date sent: Sun, 2 Sep 2012
>>19:18:46 -0500
>>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] introduction
>>
>>Wow. I bet Jasmine didn't expect this when she joined us.
>>
>>Again, welcome.
>>
>>
>>Sincerely,
>>The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!
>>
>>Now a very proud and happy Mac user!!!
>>
>>Skype name:
>>barefootedray
>>
>>On Sep 2, 2012, at 7:14 PM, "Nikki" <daizies304 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Oh yeah! I'm really not afraid of anything. Haha. I'll even walk
>>outside in the snow barefooted, if I had to. My dad is the same way.
>>
>> -----Original Message----- From: Ray Foret Jr
>> Sent: Sunday, September 02, 2012 6:53 PM
>> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] introduction
>>
>> wow, Nikki, that's very cool!!! Do you go barefooted outside still?
>>
>> Way back when that person asked whether or not blind people should go
>>barefooted, I answered that it depended on many things, but, never ever ever
>>blindness.
>>
>>
>> Sincerely,
>> The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!
>>
>> Now a very proud and happy Mac user!!!
>>
>> Skype name:
>> barefootedray
>>
>> On Sep 2, 2012, at 6:40 PM, "Nikki" <daizies304 at gmail.com
>>wrote:
>>
>> Hey Ray, I have been considered a barefoot kid all my life and now I'm in
>>my 30's loving it. LOL!
>>
>> -----Original Message----- From: Ray Foret Jr
>> Sent: Sunday, September 02, 2012 1:51 PM
>> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] introduction
>>
>> Hey, another one.
>>
>> Well, whether or not, welcome anyhow.
>>
>>
>> Sincerely,
>> The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!
>>
>> Now a very proud and happy Mac user!!!
>>
>> Skype name:
>> barefootedray
>>
>> On Sep 2, 2012, at 10:20 AM, Jasmine Kotsay <jasmine.kotsay at gmail.com
>>wrote:
>>
>> That sounds great! I look forward to seeing some of the conversations that
>>go on.
>> As to going barefooted, as long as it's not freezing cold, I'm always
>>barefooted in the house. Outside, though... Not so much.
>>LOL!!
>>
>> Sincerely,
>> Jasmine
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Ray Foret Jr <rforetjr at att.net
>> To: Blind Talk Mailing List <blindtlk at nfbnet.org Date sent: Sat, 1 Sep
>>2012 17:02:28 -0500
>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] introduction
>>
>> Oh, let's see.
>>
>> One time, somebody asked the question as to whether a blind person should
>>go barefooted or not. Guess by my signature what I said.
>>
>> Actually, I said that, whether or not a blind person does that may well
>>depend on many things; but, never should it depend on blindness.
>>
>> Well, that's the lighter side. We do, however and very very often,
>>discuss some very serious matters here. Somebody wants help with something,
>>for example, we try to offer the best advice we can on the matter.
>>Important NFB news updates with respect to the NFB are posted here. IF our
>>help is needed with respect to various legislative matters, such requests
>>can be found here.
>>HTH.
>>
>>
>> Sincerely,
>> The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!
>>
>> Now a very proud and happy Mac user!!!
>>
>> Skype name:
>> barefootedray
>>
>> On Sep 1, 2012, at 3:02 PM, Jasmine Kotsay <jasmine.kotsay at gmail.com
>>wrote:
>>
>> Hi!
>> That's great! What kinds of topics do you discuss? I think they had some
>>examples on the website, but I'm curious as to what other things are talked
>>about. :)
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Ray Foret Jr <rforetjr at att.net
>> To: Blind Talk Mailing List <blindtlk at nfbnet.org Date sent: Sat, 1 Sep
>>2012 14:29:00 -0500
>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] introduction
>>
>> Well, Jasmine, welcome to the list. My name is Raymond; but, please call
>>me Ray. I insist.
>>
>> Anyhow, we tend to have some interesting times on this list; by which I
>>mean, we usually all get along quite well and have discussions the like of
>>which you will find quite stimulating.
>>
>>
>> Sincerely,
>> The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!
>>
>> Now a very proud and happy Mac user!!!
>>
>> Skype name:
>> barefootedray
>>
>> On Sep 1, 2012, at 2:18 PM, Jasmine Kotsay <jasmine.kotsay at gmail.com
>>wrote:
>>
>> Hello,
>> I wanted to introduce myself to this list. My name is Jasmine.
>>When I came upon the name of this list on the NFB website, I was immediately
>>interested. I have no sight, and I'm always curious to find out new things
>>about blind people.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>> Jasmine
>
>
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